Life of Mar Aba – chapter 38

By this time Mar Aba was an old man. Clearly he had reached an understanding with the Sassanid King, and was trusted to undertake what were really diplomatic missions. But his health had suffered from his long period of imprisonment, and it is likely that everyone knew that he did not have long to live.

38. Afterwards the King of Kings sent him [Mar Aba] into the province of Bêt Hûzâjê, and by God’s work and his care many priests were saved from death and their blood was not shed. He encouraged them and filled their hearts with the words of spiritual teaching. Then he returned to the court of the King of Kings, who allowed him to reside wherever he wanted. The captain of the foot-soldiers (paig) who guarded him was ordered to leave him in peace.

He took up his dwelling next to the church of Bêt Narkôs. There he lived and concerned himself with divine instruction, and every day he said wonderful things to those who came to him, and converted many from heresy who had come with the King of the Arabs to pay homage to the King of Kings and that made pilgrimage to him.

When he became ill for some time because of his imprisonment, the King ordered that doctors should be sent to him to heal him; but they could not.

The Saint slept from his holy struggle on the Friday of the second week of Lent.